The first crazy day of our 6/27/03-7/3/03 WDW vacation and day 2 and 3 also

[mickeymom629]

We (DH, DS's 15, 13, and 9, DD 11 and myself) started driving at noonish on Friday, 6/27 from MD and had horrible traffic in VA. Stopped for dinner at McD's in Florence, SC (we had been looking for a Taco Bell, but finally settled for McD). Took dinner to go at 7:30 and went back on 95 which was under construction in that area and only had one lane! Thought a helicopter was landing on our van until we realized we had a flat tire! DH pulled us onto a TINY shoulder and we could feel the one lane of traffic blowing our van as each vehicle passed. DH changed the tire, but informed us that our rear radiator hose had a leak and we wouldn't last long. Pulled onto the next exit (luckily I had brought my terrorism supply of water and he poured that into the radiator hose). Made it to the next exit (THERE was the Taco Bell!) and parked in the Taco Bell parking lot to call for some repair shop that would be open at 8:30 on a Friday night! (Meanwhile, a fight was breaking out between two guys in two separate cars in the parking lot and a Taco Bell employee (female). I told one of my sons to get the video out--I was terrified that we were going to see someone shooting!

Finally found one that would be open until 9:00, but we got lost looking for it and overheated in an industrial area. It was dark now and hot. An alarm sounded from a building nearby and when it finally turned off, we were just sitting in the middle of the road wondering what to do. A cop came to investigate the alarm and noticed us on his way out. He said we were in a bad part of town and that if we could move our car to the parking lot of the building, he would call for backup. A second cop car came and they told us to get just what we needed for the night and so my kids got into one cop car and DH and I got into another. our first adventure ride! I was in the back where criminals sit. No air conditioning and hard seats. They drove us 80 miles an hour to the nearest Comfort Inn. My DH got out to ask if there were any vacancies and the lady at the desk says, "You didn't just get out of the cop car, did you?" We thanked the cops (Comfort Inn had two rooms). I was actually looking for my camera, but in the commotion I couldn't locate it. I knew my husband would think I was nuts, but this would hopefully be a once in a lifetime experience. Oh well, no camera. I just thanked the cops and we went to bed. It was the kind of thing where I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. I laughed. Thank goodness it was seeming to work out okay.

Next morning, DH walked three miles in his flip flops (shoes were in the van) and managed to get the van to one of the repair shops he had seen along his walk. Believe it or not, he found a place that had the tire we needed and could help us do something with the leaky radiator. We were on the road at 9:00 a.m.! We were just two hours behind my schedule because I had had reservations in Ridgeland, S.C.

We were in WDW by 5 p.m. on Sat. and checking into the CBR. Two adjoining rooms. Wonderful! Enjoyed the pool and the food court, shopped and got us a Pal Mickey (loved him!) and saw the Epcot fireworks from the pool area while enjoying a drink and a swim.

Next morning, we went to the food court for breakfast (I couldn't believe it was so crowded at 9:00). Shopped. Packed and checked into OKW as DVC owners on Sunday.

Had two bedroom villa by Turtle Pond, 2nd floor. Big, but slightly smaller and different than our last OKW villa which was located near the main pool. Couldn't be accomodated for that request this time.

Went to Epcot (it was my birthday and luckily my family wanted to go to my favorite park, too!). It was cloudy, hot and humid. Went to SE while DH got fp for TT. I had told the kids that there was new things because I thought that was what I had read on these boards, but we didn't notice anything new in Spaceship Earth. Bonus fp (included a fp for Honey I Shrunk . . Innovations had new things, but we only spent a little time here. Went to HISTA after TT and saw the Jammitors! I was so happy; we had never seen them before.

Over to WS and saw Chinese acrobats (wonderful!) My kids got the rest of their passports signed and stamped (leftover from last trip) in the countries they needed. Saw Italian "statue", but when DS9 went to pose for a picture, no pranks were done on him. Saw Miyuki, the candy maker lady in Japan and she was great. We were one of the first people there, but she kept making the candy for other children. My DS9 wanted one and finally my DS13 and I were almost obnoxious trying to ask for one for him. He got one . Over to France and ate at the Patisserie for the first time ever. Yum! I enjoyed a wine and croissant and the others got a Napolean, chocolate mousse and croissant.

Saw chair balancing in France. Pal Mickey as telling lots of jokes and interesting info. UK for last passport stamp and Eeyore came into the shop. He's my DD11's favorite, so she posed for a picture. Back to TT and saw a trolley full of characters right past Canada! Quick pose with Geppetto and Turk (only two with no lines) and we were being rushed by the others in our group.

TT with FP then a second ride in the single riders line. The three who did the second ride got in the same car! Another try at the single rider line and lightning began. They handed everyone purple tickets (better than fast passes). Waited for a long time in the gift shop for the storm to pass. Made it to Electric Umbrella before it started again and ate dinner (not exactly my choice for birthday dinner (I had p.s. at Ohana's that I cancelled earlier that day and I was hoping to try Olivia's).

Rushed to van when another storm came, so we couldn't go back to TT.

Relax, bed.

I'll continue more on another thread. Sorry this is so long. If you have any questions, please ask.

 

[pnelson]

Wow! You sound a lot calmer than I would have been!! Glad you made it okay! How do your teens like WDW? Did your two younger kids get autographs?

 

[mickeymom629]

Hi pnelson

I wasn't calm feeling when we were sitting in our hot car, in the dark, hearing the alarm of that building going off while wondering what we were going to do. I really didn't know how we were going to get out of the predicament so late at night in an area we didn't know, even though we had 2 cell phones, we had no one to call. Of course, this was the first year I haven't had AAA! I would have broken into tears, but I worried for our children and didn't want them to worry more. My DD was complaining and our nerves were frail. Luckily, it was not a night that we were going to be in WDW anyway because I would have been more upset.

My kids love WDW! We never seem to have enough time there to do all that we want to do. My DS15 is probably the hardest to please, so this trip he had a friend join us on Monday, which I haven't gotten to reporting yet. I had told him he could have a friend the entire trip and luckily her (yes, her) mother only wanted her to fly down for our nights at OKW. When we had the episode in S.C. I was so relieved she wasn't with us!

We did autographs and photos in our first trips to WDW when the kids were younger, but now we just try to take photos of them with the characters. Only my DD and DS9 like to pose for them, but I make the others be in the photo if it is at a character meal or someplace where we are all together.

 

[Minniespal]

Thanks for sharing ~ Wonderful reviews!!!!!

 

[Annie&Hallie'sMom]

Oh my goodness, what a start to a trip. I would have completely freaked, so give yourself a pat on the back for remaining calm (or at least pretending to).

Hope the rest of your trip goes smoothly.

 

[jumpnjack]

LOVED your report can't wait to continue. The breakdown was soooooo National Lapoonish!! What a fun memory.
Ok I am thinking that CBR is Carribeann beach resort? Am I right? Also what is a Pal Mickey?
We are getting really freaky excited. We have to go to sleep and wake up 14 more times.

 

[mickeymom629]

CBR is Caribbean Beach Resort and we loved it. I wish we could have stayed longer there. Pal Mickey is a computerized stuffed Mickey (about twice as big as bean bag size) and if you carry him around in the parks, he vibrates and giggles and then you press his belly and he'll tell you something interesting about where you are or he'll tell you a corny joke. After you are home (or while you are there) he also can play Simon Says and a couple other games and he'll still tell you jokes. You can rent him at your resort or buy him for $50, I think. He's very cute and runs on batteries that are replaceable.

 

[jumpnjack]

It is starting to really get me crazy. I know we won't sleep much the night before. I get so disneyfied before I go. My DH is consulted on some things but for the most part I am the planner. We live in NC and it is a 9 hour drive. He suggests we drive to Daytona and find a place?? I want to get one now and I am looking into that today. Anyway that way we get up bright and early and go directly to the Dolphin and head for the Magic Kingdom. At least we won't be tired from driving all day. I think it is a great idea actually.

We are taking our 8 year old grandaughter and she wants to see the Castle first of course! We have resses for Chef Mickeys that night. So we thought we would just go for a like 3 hours relax by the pool in the afternoon .
Whata ya think?
12 more times to go to sleep and wake up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!AHHHHHH
This will be Jenny's first time to meet Mickey!!!!!

 

[mickeymom629]

I don't know which day you will be arriving at the MK, but I suggest you get there as close to opening as possible. The characters are around at opening, and there is a show at the castle with all the characters (princesses too and Peter Pan and Hook and Genie, etc.) Then quickly go to Fantasyland and get fastpasses for something. You can do Small World while waiting for fp time to come. Fastpasses are the way to go. The Tiki Room is another good place to go when you are waiting for a fp time.

You'll have a great time!

 

[jumpnjack]

You are soooo helpful. Thanks AGAIN! We are arriving on Friday and we will be there for a full 8 days. I know we won't be there at opening. I just thought that we would do some things that day and we will probably spend two other days there. We are planning on opening to 1:30 ish everyday with pool and rest breaks and then dinner ps most evenings with things like fantasmic, illuminations,parade etc in the evenings. We did it that way in the past and we found we did not drag ourselves out each day.
Again we are so appreciative of your helpful hints. Last time we had our 21 yr old grandaughter with us and she acted as our tour guide she worked at disney for a college semester and she is SUCH a pro.
Jackie
poppy
nanny
jenny